by Fr Francis Anthony
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalm 129(130)
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:1-45
Theme: I am the Resurrection
Very appropriate Readings for the occasion of the 3rd Scrutiny. And coming from the heart of the Psalmist who was praying and now our Elect are using those words:
With the Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Yes, they are seeking God. And this is so applicable to them and they are able to see that the Lord is there with His mercy and He is there now to give them His life.
And in the Readings, it is the same way. Ezekiel speaking about the people who have come back from exile and uses the term ‘from the grave.’ Come back from exile to the Holy Land. And in a similar way, all our Elect were in different places, not knowing the Lord and now they are with Him. Come back.
And the Second Reading, it speaks of the Spirit that is being given. Yes, and it is through that Spirit that they would be able to join us to say the Lord’s prayer.
And the long story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. It is so appropriate for us. And I will go to the strong desire in them, in the 3rd verse of the Responsorial Psalm:
My soul is waiting for the Lord.
For all of us, we have been reading it. It would not have an impact and look at these words, when it is going to be uttered with them and for them:
My soul is waiting for the Lord.
I count on His word.
My soul is longing for the Lord.
So let us in this today’s liturgy, we may have all our own prayer, our desire but let us be one with the Elect, the 3rd Scrutiny that they will be able, through the scrutiny to come through, to be strengthened in their faith, to be able to say ‘Yes‘ to God and ‘No‘ to themselves. That is the mercy that they are longing for.
Heavenly Father, bless these Elect, be with them and help us to recognise their desire and in our own way, to reach out to them through our prayer.
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